He was just about to kill and eat it when the bird
cried out, "O Grandfather, surely you are not going to eat me? Why,
flesh, feathers and all, I am no bigger than your thumb!" "What!" said
the old man; "do you expect me then to let you go?" "Yes," said the
bird, "only let me go, and I will fetch you such a talisman as never
was--a Bezoar-stone as big as a cocoanut and worth at least a
thousand." Said the old man, "Do you really mean it?" "Really, I do,"
replied the bird. "Just let me go, and I'll bring it to you." Then,
on being released, he flew off and perched on a tree, and began to
preen his feathers, to get rid of the bird-lime.

Presently the old man said: "Where has that bird got to? Bird, where
is the Bezoar-stone you promised to bring me, the one that was worth at
least a thousand?" "Out-on-you," was the reply, "this is really _too_
ridiculous. Just think of me, with my body as big as your thumb,
carrying a Bezoar-stone as big as a cocoanut! It really is too absurd.
Why, have I even got the strength to lift it?" At this the old man
held his peace. "Well," continued the bird, "you will gain nothing by
repenting that you set me free. Only remember in future not to
undertake an affair quite out of keeping with your own powers. Neither
try to get your arms round a tree too big for your embrace, nor attempt
to climb one higher than your strength permits you."

The Mouse-deer's Shipwreck

"Come," said the Mouse-deer to the Stump-tailed Heron, "come and sail
with me to Java." So they set sail, and Friend Mouse-deer held the
tiller and Friend Heron spread the sail, and the wind blew from the
north. Soon however Friend Mouse-deer got drowsy, and let the boat
fall out of the wind.

At this Friend Heron said: "Why does the boat fall off? How is your
helm, Friend Mouse-deer?" "I was only taking a few winks," said he.
"Bring her up to the wind again," said the Heron. And the Mouse-deer
replied: "All right, I'm 'on the spot.'" Presently, however, he dozed
again and the Heron exclaimed: "Oh, if that's to be it, you may die and
be done with. I'll peck a hole in this boat of ours and you'll go to
the bottom."

But the Mouse-deer said: "_Please_ don't, I'm _such_ a bad hand at
swimming." So they sailed on. And the Mouse-deer dozed a third time.
At this the Heron could contain himself no longer, and said, "Confound
you, Friend Mouse-deer, for sleeping at the helm." And losing his
temper he pe